Self leveling, storing, and dispensing apparatus



March 27, 1956 w. J. GIBBS ETAL SELF LEVELING, STORING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 1, 1951 n C SB H F p .9); mm ["HUUUHHFMH .U.

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CARL H. LARSEN BY TMJM ATTORNEY M r 7, 1956 w. J. GIBBS ETAL 2,739,862

SELF LEVELING, STORING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1, 1951 ,3 Sheets-Sheet 2' FIG 2A 6 0 a 71 -72. I 65 w 68 as: e6 f V 4 1 84 i 5 I r E 66 87*i: l i 91 68 3 1 ,zzo 75 x72 82 $82 lNVENTOR WILLIAM J. GIBBS CARL H. LARSEN ATTORNEY March 27, 1956 w. J. GIBBS ETAL 2,739,862

SELF LEVELING, STORING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet s ORS GIBBS ARSEN ATTORNEY F I G. 4

I WILL CAR SELF LEVELING, STORING, AND DISPENSING APPARATUS William ll. Gibbs, East Rockaway, and Carl H. Larsen, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to American Machine g3; Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application November 1, 1951, Serial No. 254,396

9 Claims. (Cl. 312-71) This invention relates to self-leveling storing and dispensing apparatus, and more particularly, to units of this type which are especially well adapted for carrying very heavy weights.

Self-leveling storing and dispensing units heretofore designed have had the disadvantage that as the carrying capacity of the unit was increased, the large number of counterbalancing springs required resulted in the dispenser becoming bulky and cumbersome.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a self-leveling dispenser which will be capable of handling loads as heavy as two thousand pounds and above if States atent F endsto sprocket chains: 48, 50 and 52. The travelling bar without materially increasing the dimensions of the selfto corresponding parts throughout the several views which make up the drawings.

Figure 1 is an isometric view, partly in section, of the self-leveling dispenser.

Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 1A is a sectional end elevation illustrating the apparatus from the end opposite to that disclosed in Fig. 1'.

Figure 3 is also a schematic side elevation of another modified form of the invention.

Figure 4 is a plan view of Figure 3 taken on line 4-4.

Fig. 2A is a plan view, partly in section, taken on line 2A-2A of Fig. 2.

The apparatus used in Figure l to illustrate the invention consists of a base 10 and two vertical frames or uprights 12 and 14 extending upwardly from opposite sides of said base 10. Conventional sprockets 16 and 18 are mounted on opposite sides of the lower end of frame 12 and two similar sprockets 20, one of which is not visible, are mounted on opposite sides of the base of frame 14. The upper end of frame 12 supports a horizontal shaft 22 in a pair of suitable bearings 24 mounted on opposite ends of the frame 12. A similar shaft 26 is supported in similar bearings connected to opposite sides of the upper end of frame 14.

A carrier 28 is positioned to travel up and down between the vertical frames 12 and 14 and is supportedin each of its four corners by sprocket chains. Shaft 22 supports a double set of sprockets 30 and 32 at one end and another set of double sprockets 34 and 36 at the opposite end of shaft 22. Shaft 26 has a similar set of double sprockets 38, 40 mounted at one end of the shaft 26 and another set of double sprockets (not shown) mounted on the other end of shaft 26.

The carrier 28 and the material M is counterbalanced by calibrated tension springs S andsflmounted inside of the frames. 12 and 1,4 fso tha't r egardl ess, of whether-ma terial is added to or removed from the carrier, the, top; ofthe material is always maintained at'a ,consta nteleva tioni 'The lower endsof springs S are .anch oi'red'to suit able brackets 41 secured to,the. basefof the frame 1 2,

whilethe lower ends of springs S are anchoredto a similar bracket'42 fixedly secured to the lower end of frame.

14. The upperends of springs S- are, "connected to a floating bar 44 while the upper ends of springs S are connected to a floating bar 46. The bar 44 is secured at opposite 461'i's -secu'red to one 'end of sprocket chains 54,, 56, and 58."

The opposite ends 'of sprocketchains 50, 52, and 56 is secured to one side ofthe travelling carrier 28 while. the opposite ends of sprocket chains "48, 54 and 58 are connected to the opposite side of thep tform, 28 The sprocket chain 48, as shown in travels over the sprocket 30 downwardly and under the sprocket 18 and across thebottom of the carrier'under sprocket 20 p and then upwardly inside of the'fraine 14 and over sprocket 38 and downwardly again where it is connected at its end to the'platform 28.

The sprocket chain56 is mounted for-travel :ariOQpposite direction on the other side'of' the dispens'ing' ap-"T p'aratus. The sprocket chain 56 is connected atoneend to the"travell ing bar 46- and'travels fover a sprocket .47 (Figure 1A) mounted on the shaft 26"and downwardly arounda sprocket 49 at the base of frame 14 across the bottom'of the base 10 and upwardly arounda sprocket 16 where it again goes around a sprocket'36 and downwardly.

to thecorner of carrier 28 to which it is secured; I

The sprocket chains 50 and 52 areconnected at one end as previously mentioned-to the anana are connected at their opposite ends to the carrier 28 and pass around their respectivelsprockets 32 and' 34." The sprock et chains-54 and 58 are conn'ectedlat one endof the opposite sides of carrier 28'and-areconne'cted at their opposite ends to the floating bar 46. The sprocket chain 54 travels around sprocket 40- and chain56 travels over a similar sprocket 55 (Figure 1'A),'bothfixed1ymounted on oppositeends of the shaft 26.

-It will thus be evident from an inspection of Figure 1 and 'Figure lA that all of the sprocket chains assist in in. j terconnecting the counterbalancing springsSahd S with. opposite sides of the carrier 28-."-"Th'e sprocket chains 48" and 56 also'serve the additional purpose of tying in the F re 1,: J) L? shafts 22 and 26 for equal rotary movement in opposite: directions. It will thus lie-apparent that ifshaft 22 rotates' in one direction, shaft26 is compelled to rotate an equal amount in the opposite direction. In'other'words, positive rotary movement, of equal amounts in opposite directions are. imparted simultaneously" to the shaft's' 22 and-26.

It will thus'be apparent that if the carrier'28i s uneyenly' loaded, this might tend to" force one side of" the carrier 28 to descend at a greater distance-than the other side 1 of, the carrier '28 except for the factthat the cross-lover sprocket chains-48 and 5.6 positively'rotate. the opposite shaft mounted in the upper ends of'frarnes '12 and 14.

It will also be noted that by having the'isprocket chains 48 and 56 travel in opposite directions, .eachrchain prevents theotherchain from accumulating-salty slack due .to .the

fact-that shafts 22 and 26 are: always compelled" tozmove equal distances in opposite directions. 1

vIt will be appreciated that the-shafts 22 an 26 canbe interconnected in other suitable ways for equal movement v in oppositedirections and .I. have show-n in Figure 2 and. in Figures 3 and 4, a

eifects the same results as .th

Patented Mar. 27, 1956 modifiedforrn bf the inilention which ppa'ratus 'sh' wn a greases In Figure 2, l have shown a base having vertical frames 62 and 64 extending-upwardly from opposite sides of said base 60. A shaft 66 is mounted for free rotary movement at the upper end of frame 62 and a shaft 68 is mounted for free rotary movement" at the upper end of frame 64. The shafts '66 "and 68 have a plurality sprockets 70 and 72 fixedly mounted on each of these:

shafts. At the base of each frame 62 and 64 are mounted similar shafts 74 and 76 which are freely supported .for rotary movement in suitable-bearings mounted in opposite ends of the base 60. A carrier 1'78 "is floatingly guided for movement up and down between the uprights 62 and 64.

A pair of sprockets 79 and 80 are fixedly mounted'on opposite ends .of shafts 74 and 76. A pair of endless sprocket chains 71 are trained around the sprockets 70 and 80. A similar pair of endless sprocket chains 73 is trained around sprockets 72 and 79. The shafts 74 and 76 are interconnected for equal movement in the same direction by an endless sprocket chain82 which is trained around suitable, sprockets 81 and 83 fixedly mounted on each of the shafts 74 and 76., respectively. A plurality of calibrated tension springs 84 and 8.6 are suitably at:

tached at their upper ends to horizontal rods 85 .and 87,

respectively, the former being suitably securedto spaced chains 71, while the latter is attached to chains 73. Springs 84 and 86 are anchored at their lower ends to suitable brackets 89 and I 9.1 fixed to the lower ends of the frames 62 and '64.

The carrier 78 is secured to the inside run of sprocket v chains 71 whilethe opposite side of carrier 78 is secured to the outside .run of sprocket chains 73. ;It will be evident from this construction that the shafts 66 and 68 are compelled to move equal distances in the same direc tion and thus prevent the carrier 78 from being-tilted. 1

As a consequence the carrier 78, even when uneven] loaded, is prevented from tilting. 1

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate amodified form of their ventinn incorporating compression spring .in conjunction with counterbalance springs in addition to an anti-tilting device which is especially essential in :units designed-for heavy loads.

The apparatus shown in Figure 3 consists of ,a base 90 and .a suitable vertical frame structure 92 projecting upwardly around the sides of said base. The carrier platform 94 at each of its four corners is secured to one end of a chain 96, each of which is supported by asprocket 98, two of which are mounted on a horizontal shaft while the other two are secured to a horizontal shaft 102. Shafts 100 and 102 are supported in suitable bearings asked and opposite "rotation of shafts 100 and 102 and prevents the platform 94 from tilting at any time. Sprocket 124 is pivotally mounted to a stud 123 and sprocket 126 is rotatably supported by a stud 130. Both studs are suitably held by the base 90.

To assure smooth sliding at the crossing point of chain 118, a suitably mounted separating and guide plate 132 is provided.

The invention above described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for theparticular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a self-leveling storing and dispensing apparatus, a base, uprights extending upwardly from said base, a material supporting carrier movable up and down between said uprights, shafts extending across the upper ends of each of said uprights, bearings mounting each of said shafts for free rotary movement, sprockets fixedly mounted on each of said shafts, sprocket chains trained over said sprockets and connected with one portion of said carrier, and calibrated tension springs connected at one end with another portion of said sprocket chains and at the other end to a stationary part of said apparatus and additional means interconnecting said shafts for equal positive movement in both directions of rotation to compel said shafts and sprockets to always move equal distances.

2. In a self-leveling storing and dispensing apparatus, a base, uprights extending upwardly from opposite sides of said base, a material supporting carrier movable up and down between said uprights, a shaft extending across the upper ends of each of said uprights, bearings mounted oue ach of said uprights for freely supporting each shaft for rotary movement, sprockets fixedly mounted on each of said shafts, calibrated counterbalancing springs having one end maintained free from movement, sprocket chains passing oversaid sprockets and interconnecting the other end of each of said calibrated counterbalancing springs with the carrier, and means interconnecting said shafts for positive movement in both directions of rotation to cause saidrshafts and sprockets to always rotate equal amounts.

3. A self-leveling storing and dispensing apparatus comprising, a base, a first and second upright extending upwardly from opposite sides of said base, a material supprovided in the upper portion of frame 22. -T.hefother end of each chain 96 isanchored to a suitable lug 104 also secured to the upper portion of frame 92. The downward projecting loop of each chain also engages with a floating sprocket 106, one pair of which is rotatably mounted on a floating shaft 108 while the other pair is' rotatably mounted to a shaft 110. To shaft 108, as well as to shaft 110, are hooked a plurality of .counterbalancing springs .112, each of whichxat its lower end is anchored to .a suitable bracket 114 secured to the base 90.

To permit very heavy loads to be placed on the carrier platform 94, the latter may be furthermore supported by means of a plurality of calibrated compression springs 116 confined in vertical position between the base 90 and the bottom portion of the carrier platform '94. It will thus be apparent that the compression springs or tension springs can be used alone or in combination as desired. To eliminate any tilting action of the latter incase of an uneven distribution of the heavy load on the platform, an endless chain 118 engages a sprocket 120 on shaft 100 and a sprockets 124 and 126 which permits the; proper synchroporting carrier, shafts extending across the upper ends of each of said uprights, sprockets fixedly mounted on each of said shafts, calibrated counterbalancing springs connected at one end to said base, a first traveling horizontal bar connected to the other end of a predetermined number of said calibrated counterbalancing springs, a second traveling horizontal bar connected to the other end of a predetermined number of said calibrated counterbalancing springs, a first sprocket chain trained over a sprocket on each of said shafts and connected at one end to one side of said material supporting carrier, at second sprocket chain trained over a sprocket on each of said shafts and connectedat one end to the opposite side of said material supporting carrier, means connecting said first chain to said first bar, means connecting said second chain to said second oar, one set of sprocket chains trained over sprockets on the shaft at the top of said second upright and connected at one end to the second bar and at the other end to the side of said carrier adjacent the second 'bar, and a second set of sprocket chains trained over sprockets on said first shaft and connected at one end to said first bar and at the other end to the side of said carrier adjacent said first bar.

4. A self leveling storing and dispensing apparatus comprising, a base, a first upright extending upwardly from one side of said base, a second upright extending upwardly from the opposite side of said base, a first rotatable shaft mounted across the upper end of said first upright, sprockets mounted on said first shaft, sprockets mounted at the bottom of said first upright, a second shaft rotatably mounted at the upper end of the second upright, sprockets mounted on said second shaft, sprockets mounted at the base of the second upright, a first set of calibrated tension springs having one end connected to the base of said first upright, a second set of calibrated tension springs having one end connected to the base of said second upright, a material supporting carrier mounted for up and down movement between said first and second uprights, a first sprocket chain traveling over sprockets fixedly mounted on said shafts and under the sprockets mounted at the base of said first and second uprights to interconnect the other end of the first set of calibrated springs with the side of said carrier adjacent the second upright, a second sprocket chain traveling over sprockets mounted on said shafts and under sprockets mounted at the base of said first and second uprights to interconnect the other end of said second set of calibrated springs with the side of the carrier adjacent said first upright, one set of sprocket chains passing over sprockets fixedly mounted on said first shaft to interconnect the first set of calibrated countersprings with the side of the carrier adjacent the first set of calibrated counterbalancing springs, and a second set of sprocket chains traveling over sprockets mounted on said second shaft to interconnect the second set of calibrated counterbalancing springs with the side of the carrier adjacent the second set of calibrated counterbalancing springs.

5. A self-leveling storing and dispensing apparatus comprising, a base, a first upright extending upwardly from one side of said base, a second upright extending upwardly from the opposite side of said base, a first sprocket carrying shaft rotatably mounted across the upper end of said first upright, a second sprocket carrying shaft rotatably mounted across the upper end of said second upright, sprockets mounted at the lower end of said first and second uprights, a first endless sprocket chain traveling in a closed path around the sprockets at the upper and lower ends of said first upright, a second endless sprocket chain traveling around the sprockets mounted in the upper and lower ends of said second upright, a carrier platform connected at opposite sides to said first and second endless sprocket chains, calibrated tension springs connected to said first and second sprocket chains for counterbalancing material supported on said material carrying platform to maintain the upper layer of material thereon at a predetermined constant elevation, a third endless sprocket chain interconnecting the sprockets at the base of said uprights to prevent the carrier platform from being tilted to cause the first and second sprocket chains to be positively rotated together equal amounts in either direction.

6. A self-leveling storing and dispensing apparatus comprising, a base, uprights extending upwardly from opposite sides of said base, a carrier platform movable up and down between said uprights, calibrated compression springs positioned between said carrier platform and said base, pairs of spaced sprockets mounted at the upper and lower ends of each of said uprights, a shaft interconnecting at least one pair of spaced sprockets in each upright, 21 sprocket chain for compelling the sprockets in each of said uprights to be positively moved in either direction of rotation for like amounts of rotation, and means securing said carrier platform to sprocket chains moving around sprockets supported in the upper end of said uprights to maintain the carrier platform horizontal at all times.

7. A self-leveling storing and dispensing apparatus comprising, a base, uprights extending upwardly from opposite sides of said base, a material carrier platform traveling up and down between said uprights, a pair of spaced sprocket mounted at the upper and lower ends of each upright, an endless sprocket chain interconnecting the sprockets mounted at the base of each upright for positive and equal amounts of rotation in both directions of travel, a first set of endless sprocket chains interconnecting the sprockets at the top and bottom of said first uprights, a second set of endless sprocket chains interconnecting the sprockets at the top and bottom of said second upright, means for securing opposite sides of said carrier platform to the first and second set of endless sprocket chains, and calibrated tension springs connected to the first and second set of sprocket chains to exert a counterbalancing force through said sprocket chains on the material carrier platform to maintain the top of the material at a constant predetermined level.

8. A self-leveling storing and dispensing apparatus comprising, a base, uprights extending upwardly from opposite sides of said base, a carrier platform movable up and down between said uprights, calibrated compression springs positioned between said carrier platform and said base, a shaft carrying spaced sprockets fixedly mounted thereon at the upper end of each upright, spaced sprockets mounted at the base of each upright, calibrated tension springs positioned adjacent one upright, a set of sprocket chains passing over the sprockets mounted on the shaft at the upper end of said upright to interconnect one side of the material supporting platform with said calibrated tension springs, calibrated tension springs positioned adjacent the other upright, a set of sprocket chains passing over sprockets mounted on the shaft supported in the upper end of the said upright to interconnect the other side of said material supporting platform with said calibrated tension springs, and a crossover endless sprocket chain interconnecting the sprockets mounted on the shafts carried at the upper end of said first and second uprights to cause said sprockets to always move equal amounts in both directions of rotation to maintain the material suporting carrier horizontal at all times.

9. In a self-leveling, storing and dispensing apparatus a base, uprights extending upwardly from said base, a material supporting carrier movable up and down between said uprights, sprockets mounted at the upper ends and lower ends of each of said uprights, sprocket chains trained over said sprockets, means connecting opposite sides of said carrier to said chains, means interconnecting said sprockets and chains to positively compel said sprockets and chains to all move equal distances in either direction to maintain said carrier free from tilting, and calibrated tension springs having one end maintained stationary and the other end connected with said chains for effecting a counterbalancing action on the carrier to maintain the upper layer of material supported thereon at a constant elevation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,185,793 Hanson June 6, 1916 2,251,873 Gibbs Aug. 5, 1941 2,251,874 Gibbs Aug. 5, 1941 2,373,029 Kiesling Aug. 3, 1945 2,461,638 Gibbs Feb. 15, 1949 2,560,928 Bockius July 17, 1951 2,601,295 Jensen June 24, 1952 

